Lučka Lorber
DOI: 10.35666/28310438.2014.3.59
UDC: 911.3[338.45:711.061](4-12)
Abstract: The present brownfield revitalisation methodology, a joint work of the ReTInA project partners, aims at contributing to common knowledge developed in favour of the actors involved in revitalisation of abandoned traditional industrial sites. Brownfield revitalisation falls among the most dynamic urban planning processes, and - from this aspect - it can be supported only by open and flexible urban planning, which could be continuously updated due to quickly changing conditions. The transition from mass–production to post–industrial society has rearranged the traditional urban hierarchy based on manufacturing industry. For more than a quarter of a century, most cities in Europe have been losing manufacturing functions, substituting them with service specialisation. Industrial plants and employees' neighbourhoods have been abandoned or downgraded, frequently challenging the survival of related urban infrastructures. Collapse of traditional industries has resulted in a more fragmented urban arena, in which collective and private interests are pulverized, individuals’ concerns frequently do not match long–term urban perspectives, investments and budget constrains reduce local autonomy, and the recent economic crisis generated even more serious concern about the resilience of urban models. From the strategic aspect, in view of developing sustainable cities, brownfields represent the urban areas with the highest development potentials. This sites present particular challenges to local, national and regional policymakers, including the remediation of hazards to human beings, groundwater and ecosystems. But there is also need to facilitate the reintegration of rehabilitated sites into the property market and to ensure that they can be brought back into new economic uses. In its complexity, the planning exercise with diverse elements interacting and numerous, frequently conflicting interests that have to be considered, and risks to be properly managed, cannot be seen as a linear task. Namely, it is necessary to implement multiple tasks simultaneously, and to consider reiteration of the steps already accomplished where specific outcomes do not appear as originally planned and an analysis of the reasons shows the need for re-consideration and adjustment of actions/decisions adopted earlier. The research work methodology applies the endogenous approach (“bottom up”) on a basis of newly defined land use category of brownfields by the local community. Geography science enjoys an advantage of complexity of understanding spatial issues. This enables geographers to coordinate and harmonize interests between the owners, stakeholders, legislation and human resources. In addition to geographical areas (economic, traffic, demographic, environmental and regional geography) directly involved in the project applicative research, this also includes collaboration of architects, lawyers and economists.
Keywords: brownfield, industrial city areas, revitalisation, urban planning, SEE Europe, ReTinA